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UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA BULLETIN 



New Series No. 172, University Studies No. 9 



UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 
BULLETIN 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN Jr. 

Edited by 
Edward Everett Dale 



NORMAN, OKLAHOMA 
JUNE 1, 1919 



University of Oklahoma Bulletin, published by the university, is Issue* 
semimonthly. Entered at the postoffice at Norman, as second class matter, 
under act of congress of August 24, 1912. Accepted for mailing at special rate 
of postage, provided for in Section 1103, act of ©etober 3rd, 1917, authorize* M 
July 8th, 1918. 



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PREFACE 

This is the first of a series of historical studies, or leaflets, 
to be published by the University of Oklahoma. These studies 
are to consist of original documents of western and south- 
western history, and are to be issued at regular intervals in 
the future. 

In this document the original text has been preserved 
throughout. Notes are added when it kas seemed necessary to 
explain statements, but the spelling, punctuation, and capitaliza- 
tion are given just as they appear in the journal itself. 

The editor wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. 
P. C. Slack of Edmond, Oklahoma, who first told him of the 
manuscript and through whose agency it was obtained, and to 
Mrs. D. H. Hartley of Hillsboro, Iowa, for her courtesy in 
lending this journal, which she justly prizes very highly. He 
also desires to express his thanks to Professor Lyman P. 
Wilson of the University of Oklahoma for assistance rendered 
in photographing the specimen pages herein given, and to two 
of the editor's own students, Mr. Lanson D. Mitchell, and Mr. 
Morris L. Wardell, for helping to trace on the map the route 
followed by James Akin and his party. 



INTRODUCTION 

In the spring of 1852 a small party started from south- 
eastern Iowa to journey overland to Oregon. The little group 
consisted of four families, all apparently related to one another. 
Stuart Richey was the leader. Besides himself and family 
there were Caleb Richey and family, James Ingram and fam- 
ily, and James Akin and family.. The exact number of persons 
is unknown but was probably between thirty and forty. . They 
were traveling in ox wagons with perhaps about five yoke of 
oxen to each wagon. With the party was a young man about 
eighteen years of age, James Akin Jr., who kept a brief journal 
of the trip in which he recorded the daily happenings. 

It is not at all surprising that this little expedition should 
have started to Oregon about this time. This was the period 
of the "Oregon fever". For several years Oregon had been a 
veritable Land of Promise to the people of the Mississippi 
Valley, and even to many of those of the extreme East. The 
journal of Lewis and Clark published some forty years before 
by the great banker, Nicholas Biddle of Philadelphia, had at- 
tracted much attention. Astoria had been founded by the 
Pacific Fur Company, had been lost during the War of 1812 and 
regained soon after the close of that war. Hall Kelly, the 
Boston schoolmaster, had organized in 1829 the American 
Society for the Settlement of Oregon Territory, and had urg- 
ed migration to Oregon as a means of wresting that region 
from Great Britain, that still held equal rights there with 
the United States under the Joint Occupation Treaty. Na- 
than Wyeth and Ewing Young had visited the Oregon Coun- 
try in the early '30's and their stories were well known. Also 
the Lees had founded a mission on the Willamette River 
in 1834.. Others had joined them and in 1836 the Whit- 
mans and the Spaldings had crossed over to Oregon to found 
the famous Wailatpu Mission on the Walla Walla River. In 

1842 Whitman had made his ride to the East returning in 

1843 in company with a numerous party of settlers. John 
C. Fremont, the "Pathfinder" had explored and mapped 
much of the route in 1842 and 1843, though it had long been 
well known to the fur traders. 

All this had aroused a great interest in Oregon and the 
signing of the treaty of June 15, 1846 with Great Britain 



4 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

making the forty-ninth parallel the boundary line from the 
Rocky Mountains to the Pacific gave the United States com- 
plete title to all of the so-called "Oregon Country." Migra- 
tion was still further encouraged by the acquisition of Cali- 
fornia and by the gold discoveries. 

Then came the Donation Act of 1850 which gave to every 
citizen of the United States who had settled in Oregon prior 
to the passage of the act three hundred and twenty acres 
of land and to all Americans who should settle there be- 
fore 1853 one hundred and sixty acres for each man and an 
additional hundred and sixty acres for his wife. Remem- 
bering that the Richey and Akin party left Iowa in the 
spring of 1852 and arrived in Oregon in due time to take 
advantage of this legislation, we can hardly doubt that this 
was one motive which led to the journey. 

Moreover, it seems that the Richeys and Akins were 
pioneers by instinct. Their ancestors had left Culpepper 
County, Virginia for Boonesborough, Kentucky where they 
settled soon after the founding of that place by Boone in 1775. 
In 1808 they had removed to Pendleton County Kentucky 
where they again settled in the wilderness not far from the 
Licking River. From there they had removed to Illinois 
and located near the site of the present city of Peoria. A 
few years later they had again removed, this time to Iowa, 
settling in Henry County near Salem, at a time when the 
nearest post-office was Fort Madison, thirty miles away. 
Their next journey is the one recorded in the pages of 
James Akin's journal. 

We may wish that the author of this document had 
been less brief in his entries. There were remarkable hap- 
penings on this journey the details of which would no doubt 
form interesting reading. And yet anyone who knows the 
West and life in camp and on the trail can read much be- 
tween the lines of James Akin's meager record of events. 
Even the brief entry made August 19th at the ford of Snake 
River suggests many things: 

"Try all day to get the cattle across and could not." 

A simple statement of fact and yet anyone accustomed 
to the ways of the trail can fairly see that group of men 
pushing, pulling, hauling and sweating as they try in every 
possible way to get the stubborn oxen into the water and 
across the river, while the women busy themselves about 
camp preparing food or washing clothing. One can easily 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 5 

imagine the shouts and cries; the new plans tried out; the 
councils of the leaders and the decision to try something 
else. An all day task and then at night nothing but failure! 
Very likely James Akin was too tired that evening to enter 
more than a single line in his journal. Or perhaps he 
thought the less said about that day the better! 

The student of history may also find in this document 
many facts given unconsciously by James Akin. Facts in 
regard to the road, the edge of settlement at thts time, the 
prices of various commodities, the eastern limit of the buf- 
falo and the relations between the whites and the Indians. 
Above all the historian may find here the simple recital of 
hardships and dangers met in a fashion typical of our front- 
iersmen. Seven of the little party died on the journey, 
but apparently there was no thought of becoming discourag- 
ed or of turning back. 

James Akin is a type. He and his little group of re- 
latives and friends are but a drop in that great flood of migra- 
tion that swept westward over the plains during several de- 
cades of the ninteenth century; a migration that peopled 
our Pacific coast states and builded magnificent cities and a 
splendid civilization beyond the Rockies in what had hither- 
to been a wilderness. 

And so the creaking ox wagon rolling slowly along the 
dusty trail bore with it more than the family and the house- 
hold goods of Stuart Richey or of James Akin. It was 
one of many thousands that were freighted with the hopes 
and dreams of a people, with the destiny of a nation whose 
watchword has ever been "Westward," until the most re- 
mote corners of our frontier empire have at last been pen- 
etrated and American civilization carried still beyond to re- 
mote islands of the Pacific. 

EDWARD EVERETT DALE 

Norman, Oklahoma. 

February 1, 1919. 



JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN, Jr. 

Original owned by Mrs. D. H. Hartley of Hillsboro, Iowa. 

(Obtained through the courtesy of Mr. P. C. Slack of Edmond, 

Oklahoma.) 

Tuesday, April 15, 1852 
first day crossed fish creek three-fourths of a mile roads 
good a plenty of watter and wood. 

Friday 16 
Rains till noon started came to Salem left Salem at 3 o'clock 
Traveled 6 miles a plenty of wood not much watter. (1") 

Saturday 17 
Start pretty soon rains nearly all day roads very muddy 
traveled 15 miles plenty of watter and wood. 

Sunday 18 1852 

start at 9 o'clock-roads very bad. Pass Birmingham & Win- 
chester, camp at libertyville. corn 55 cts. per bushel hay 
50 per cwt — good place to camp. (2) 

Monday 19 
Roads better travel 15 miles passed through agency. camp 
in a good place — plenty of wood not much watter. 

Tuesday 20th 
Roads very good travel 16 miles passed altumira pretty cold 
day — camp in good place — plenty of wood and water over- 
took Caleb Richey. (3) 

Wednesday April 21, 1852 
bad roads travel 16 miles cold weather passed Eddyvill about 
noon bad place to camp plenty wood and watter. 

1. Salem is in the southwest part of Henry County. The Akins and 
Richeys apparently lived a short distance cast of Saloni. 

2. Winchester and Birmingham is the order in which he should have 
placed them, as Winchester was passed first. We shall note the steady 
lowering in the price of com and other agricultural products as the party 
proceeds west, owing to increasing distance from market. Once they 
pass the farming frontier however and reach the Great Plains, we shall 
find prices increasing enormously in the fur-trading and mining region. 

3. Apparently Caleb Richey had started a little in advance of the 
rest of the party. They were traveling nearly due west until they pass- 
ed Winchester. They then turned north-west and traveled parallel with 
the Des Moines River. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 7 

Thursday 22 

travel 15 miles Fine weather crossed the demoines river in 
the evening good place to camp on the bank of the river. (4) 

Friday 23 

Travel 3 miles and then stoped & stayed the balance of the 
day cool, dandy weather oats 40 cts a dozen corn SO cts per 
bushel good place to camp. (5) 

Saturday apr. 24 1852 
Traveld 12 miles roads hilley and rough — cloudy weather, 
passed knoxville crossed white breast creek and camped on 
the bank bought hay. 

Sunday 25 1852 
Layed by all day cloudy weather Hearded all the cattle all 
day — good place to camp plenty of wood and water. 

Monday 26th 1852 
traveled 12 miles — cool weather — passed pleasantvill crossed 
South river & camped on the bank of the river — good place 
to camp. 

Tuesday 27th 
Traveled 16 miles — very good praierie road Palmyra-Indian- 
ola camp in the prairie — good place to camp a plenty of 
water not much wood. 

Wednesday 28th 
Traveled 16 miles — ^very good roads crossed big creek & camp- 
ed on the bank of the same creek good place to car^p 
plenty wood & water. (6) 

Thursday April 29th 1852 
Traveled 7 miles warm day & good roads crossed middle 
river & camped on the north side 2J/2 miles of wintersett 
good place to camp stop at noon. 

• Friday 30th 1852 

Start at 9 o'clock — travel 3 miles and pass Wintersette roads 
very good — windy cold day stop & camp 1 mile west of 

4. No doubt at the ferry southwest of Oskaloosa. Their route then 
led northwest to Knoxville; from there almost straight west to Winchester.. 

5.. Forty cents a dozen for oats in the sheaf. It will be observed that 
corn is cheaper here than further east. 

6. Probably a stream flowing into Middle River which they crossed 
seven miles further on. They were not far from the boundary line be- 
tween Warren and Madison counties. 



8 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Wintersette camp in a deep hollow good place to camp 47 
wagons on the same ground. (7) 

Saturday 1st 1852 
Start early travel 20 miles very good roads camped in the 
prairie — plenty watter — carry wood 3-4 mile herd the cattle 
till 9 oclock. 

Sunday 2nd 
Very cold windy morning start about noon & travel 8 miles 
camp in the prairie & haul wood with us — not much grass 
plenty water rains at night. 

Monday May 3d 1852 
Start early Travel 15 miles — cool weather camp in the prairie 
good place to camp — plenty wood and water — more grass 
than common mudy branch. 

tuesday May 4th 1852 
Start early travel 18 miles — pretty day — plenty of grass a 
plenty of watter camp in the prairie — drive the cattle a half 
mile to grass. (8) 

Wednsday 5th 
Start earley — travel 15 miles — good roads — warm day — rains 
at night — camp in the prairie — plenty of watter & grass Good 
place to camp — no timber. 

Thursday May 6th 1852 
travel 16 miles, good roads but muddy. rained part of the 
day camp in a beautiful place on the bank of the creek grass 
plenty. 

Friday 7th May 1852 
Start early and travel lYz miles to the creek & wait 4 hours 
to cross & the boat Sunk good roads in the prairie, camp in 
the prairie plenty water & grass no wood. (9) 

Saturday 8th 1852 
Travel 15 miles — ^good roads camp in Kainsville bad place to 
camp — Aplenty wood & watter but no grass beautiful day 
great many camped around. (10) 

7. The number of wagons camped here shows the extent of the 
migration westward this spring. 

8. It will be observed that they are making long daily drives for 
ox teams; an average of sixteen or seventeen miles a day. The fact 
that they must drive the cattle half a mile to grass indicates that many 
others have passed over this route recently and the grass near the camp- 
ing places has been eaten down. 

9. Probably the West Nishnabatona not far from the present 
town of Oakland. 

10. This was at the site of the present city of Council Bluffs, a well 
known crossing on the Missouri at this time. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 9 

Sunday May 9th 1852 

Travel 3 miles and camp on the banks of the Missourie river 
beautiful day good place to camp plenty wood water & grass. 

Monday 10th May 1852 
Camped in the Same place corn 20 cts per bushel new boat 
started Fine day — many Indians around tents. (11) 

tuesday 11th May 1852 

beautiful day Fery boat sunk 2 or 3 drowned heard the cattle 

plenty of grass — flour 16 dollars per lb. (12) 

Wednsday may 12 1852 

camped in the same place rains in the evening a man killed 
by the wagon running over him Teams coming in all the 
time. 

Thursday 13th May 1852 
camped in the same place beautiful day — a great many teams 
on the ground — not much grass river raised a little. 

Friday 14 May 1852 

camped in the same place — boat Bought flour at 16 dollars 
per barel beautiful day — pack up the wagons. 

Saturday 15th May 1852 
Start early and travel 14 miles up the river to another ferry 
warm day — camp in 2 miles of the ferry — good place to camp 
plenty wood water & gras rains at night. 

Sunday 16th 1852 
camp in the same place — cold windy day — good place to camp 
plenty wood and water and grass great many teams pass. (13) 

Monday 17th May 1852 
Start early & go to the river boat could not get to cross 
camp here and drive the cattle back about 2 miles to grass. 

Tuesday 18th May 1852 
commence crossing in the morning and cross nearly all day 
very windy cross till midnight get all the cattle cross except 
10 yoke. 

11. The great drop in the price of corn should be noted. This is 
the first mention he makes of Indians. They were probably from across 
the river and came to the camp to trade or to ask for food. 

12. Barrel no doubt. The "two or three drowned" obviously refers 
to other emigrants encamped at the same place, as does the following 
entry; "man killed by wagon running over him." The next two 
entries also indicate the large number of emigrants who used this ferry. 

13. Probably not far from the site of the present town of Crescent. 



10 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Wednsday 19th 1852 
Fery the other 2 teams early in the morning Start and travel 
12 miles heard the cattle twice camp in a good place. (14) 

Thursday 20th May 1852 

Travel 15 miles cross Elkhorn river — wagons 2 dollars a 
piece camp in a good place. (15) 

Friday May 21st 1852 

Start early — travel 10 miles rains nearly all day. camp at 
2 o'clock get scard at nothing & went back a mile for 
company, camp on platte river. (16) 

Saturday 22nd 
Travel 16 miles warm weather — travel up platte river bottom 
camp & then leave on account of small pox drive on to 
good place to camp. (17) 

Sunday 23nd 

Traveled 15 m les up platte river bottom bad roads seen 30 
Indians with their ponies loaded with bufFaloe skins — good 
place to camp. (18) 

Monday May 24th 1852 
Traveled 18 miles to loup Fork Ferry then went up the 
river 6 miles in a very good place — plenty wood water & 
grass. 

Tuesday 25th May 1852 
Start early travel 13 miles up loup Fork to the ferry cross 
beaver river — camp near loup fork — bad place to camp. 

Wednsday May 26th 1852 
Travel 10 m les — bad roads warm' day cross loup fork in the 
eavening deep fording with quick sand bottom good place 
to camp. (19) 

14. Since the preceding entry says they have all the cattle across but 
ten yoke, tliis would indicate that they were working five yoke of oxen 
to each wagon. 

15. Probably nearly straight east of Fremont. Nebi^aska. Many 
men who kept these ferries on the Oregon and California trails found 
them veritably gold mines. 

16. They were now approaching the Indian country. His brief entry; 
"get scared at nothing" arouses one's curiosity as to the exact cause of 
their fright. 

17. Small pox, cholera and other diseases were very prevalent along 
these trails. James Akin and his party probably encamped near other 
emigrants before discovering that these people had small pox among them. 

18. This shows that they were nearing the buffalo country. The 
Indians probably lived further east and were returning from a hunting 
trip. 

19. Apparently a short distance east of the present town of Fullerton. 
Nebraska. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 11 

Thursday 27th May 1852 

Layed by all day — pretty good grass — watter and wood plenty 
camp near loup fork — good place to camp no Indians 
about come to the sioux Indians. 

Friday 28th 

Start early — travel 18 miles come to the buflfaloe range sandy 
roads camp in the prairie plenty of grass no wood water 
scarce. (20) 

Saturday May 29 1852 
Start early travel 18 miles prairie roads some bad places to 
cross — saw the first antelope camp no wood 

Sunday May 30th 1852 
travel 16 miles — very good roads — pass no timber crossed 
one small creek camp near wood river plenty of wood and 
grass — not much water. 

Monday 31st May 1852 
Travel 15 miles — very good roads — travel in ^ mile of platte 
river all day camp in a good place drive cattle to platte river 
to vv-ater. (21) 

Tuesday June 1st 1852 

Start early — travel 17 miles — very good roads water the cattle 
at noon in platte — camp in good place — plenty water and 
grass no wood. 

Wednsday June 2nd 1852 
Travel 20 miles — very hot calm day — roads very dusty cros 
Elum and Buffalo Creeks camp — not much grass — drive them 
two miles to water — rainey and mudy night grand iland. 

Thursday June 3nd 1852 

travel 18 m les — muddy roads — cool day — came to platte river 
again — saw 5 grave.s — camp near platt no wood — some buffalo 
chips — came to alkali. (22) 

20. A few miles east of the west line of Merrick County. This is an 
interesting entry as it indicates the eastern limit of the buffalo range in 1852. 

21. The trail followed the Platte as there was little water elsewhere 
in this region. 

22. Had it not been for buffalo chips and cow chips the plainsman 
would have had much difficulty in providing himself with fuel. Buffalo 
chips long afforded ready means for cooking his food and warming his 
camp. 

Within recent years the editor has often seen a pioneer farmer driv- 
ing slowly across the prairie, while his children gathered cow chips and 
threw them in the wagon. This was his only method for securing fuel 
for the winter. 



12 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Friday June 4th 1852 

travel 16 miles — good roads saw 5 buffalo in the morning 
passed 1 grave — camped near platte good place to camp. 

Saturday June 5th 1852 
Travel 16 miles — good roads but sandy — crossed over a low 
sandy bluff extending to the river — rain and wind in even- 
ing — camp in a good place near platte. 

Svmday June 6th 1852 
Travel 20 miles — sandy roads — crossed skunk creek — 'three 
died with the cholera along the road camp on canion creek 
no timber. (23) 

monday June 7th 1852 
Travel 14 miles crossed canion creek — passed the last timber 
for 200 miles took a buffalo hunt — and wounded one — camp 
in a good place near the river buffalo chips. 

June 8th Tuesday 1852 

Laid by all day 13 of the boys went hunting and killed 
one antelope good grass and buffalo chips a great many 
wagons passing all the time. (24) 

Wednesday June 9th 1852 

Travel 19 miles — road ascends the bluff — very sandy roads 
cross north bluff forks and bluff creek camp in a good place 
— plenty of grass and chips — water scarce. 

Thursday June 10th 1852 
Travel 25 miles — cool day and sandy roads — platte river high — 
springs along the road — camp in a good place — plenty of 
grass — water and chips. 

June 11th Friday 1852 

Travel 18 miles over very sandy bluffs — very warm day — 

camp in a bad place — no grass not much water great many 
campers in sight. 

Saturday June 12th 1852 
Travel 12 miles — till noon — then stop and stay the balance 

23. The "three died with the cholera" of <-ourse refers to other 
emigrants on the trail and not to member^ii- j ,v; welkin party. 

24. They have passed the fo'-'i-rjl the river and are following up 
the, North Platte. They are far di.,. "apon the plains, a long distance from 
civilization. It would be interesting to know the details of these hunt- 
ing trips. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 13 

of the day — camp in a good place — a good spring — and plenty 
of grass — lone tree. 

Sunday June 13 1852 

Start early and travel 16 miles — good roads and warm day 
rains in the evening — good place to camp — plenty grass and 
water. 

Monday June 14th 1852 
Travel 14 miles — sandy road cool day — came in sight of chim- 
ney rock — bad storm in the evening — good place to camp 
water grass and chips. (25) 

Tuesday June 15th 1852 

Laid by all day — on account of sickness — not much grass Caleb 
Richey and his company overtook us — plenty water— not much 
chips. 

Wednesday June 16th 1852 
Louise Richey wife of Stuart Richey died at two oclock in 
the morning Started at noon and traveled 15 miles — good 
roads pleasant weather — camp on platt— not much grass. (26) 

Thursday 17th 1852 
Travel 18 miles — very good roads — passed chimney rock 
drive the cattle 2 miles to the river to water at noon camp 
near platte — plenty of grass. 

Friday June 18th 1852 

Traveled 16 miles — excellent roads and warm day — passed 
scots bluffs — camp near the creek — good spring burnt up one 
old wagon. (27) 

25. This entry enables us to locate tlie party exactly. Chimney 
Rock is famous land mark in that region. It is in western Nebraska, 
a little west of where the one hundred and third meridian crosses the 
Platte. It rises about eight hundred feet above the river. Court House 
Rock, another well known land mark, stands some distance east of Chim- 
ney Rock and must have been seen by James Akin, though he does not 
mention it. A good picture of Chimney Rock is given in Birge, "The 
Awakening of the Desert" p. 74. 

26. The first death in the Akin party. Apparently they had no 
great fear of Indians, or they would have been more careful to keep to- 
gether. (See preceding entry) 

27. Scotts' Bluff rise 4,662 feet above sea level, forming the highest 
point in Nebraska. They were so named in memory of the tragic death 
by starvation of a man named Scott who was deserted by his companions. 
He was ill and the part" was destitute of provisions. He managed to 
make his way to this bi^. , 'p his remains were found much later. 
These bluffs rise abruptly from a < . -atively level plain and form a 
striking object, no matter from whic. direction they are seen. The 
"burnt up one old wagon" shows how scarce fuel must have been. (See 
picture of Scott's Bluffs in Birge, "Awakening of the Desert" p. 155) 



14 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Saturday 19th 1852 

traveled 16 miles — good roads and grass — camp close to platte 
river — good place to camp — plenty water and chips. . . 

Sunday 20th 1852 
travel 16 miles — sandy and dusty roads — drive the cattle into 
the river at noon to water camp near the river — plenty grass 
and water. (28) 

Monday June 21st 1852 
travel 5 m.les — camp within V/2 miles of platte river consider- 
able sickness in company good place to camp.. 

Tuesday June 22nd 1852 

travel 20 miles over the black hills — found no water till 2 
oclock camp in good place — plenty of pine and cedar wood but 
no water. 

Wednesday 23nd 1852 
Travel 12 miles very hilly bad roads, pine and cedar bluffs — 
cloudy rainy weather — Elva Ingram daughter of James and 
wife d'ed — camp in good place — plenty wood no water. (29) 

Thursday 24nd June 1852 
Travel 15 miles — good roads but hilly — very cold rainy day — 
some sickness in company camp in a good place plenty wood 
and grass — not much water. 

Friday 25 June 1852 
Travel 18 miles — good roads — road returns to the river warm 
weather — camp near platte — plenty wood and water — not much 
grass. 

Saturday June 26 1852 
Travel 16 miles — bad country platte river very small — not much 
grass eny place, camp near the r^'er not much wood. 

Sunday June 27th 
Travel 17 miles — level sandy roads warm day passed no tim- 
ber — camp near the river — drive the cattle 2 miles to grass not 
much wood. 

29. This, is the second death in the party. 

28. They had now crossed the line into Wyoming, passing the boundary 
of that state about the forty-second parallel, not far from the present 
town of Pratt. It will be observed that the Richey-Akin party followed 
the practice of most other emigrants in resting about one day each week. 
th(»ugh this day was quite as likely to be any otlicr day as Sunday. They 
traveled all day on this Sunday, the 20th, but it will be noticed that they 
traveled but five miles the following day, while the preceding Tuesday 
they had "laid by all day — " he says "On account of sickness." They simply 
rested the day which was most convenient — that is, when they came to a good 
place to camp with an abundance of grass and water. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 15 

Monday June 28th 1852 

Travel 18 miles — sandy roads met 6 men and 16 horses packing 
through from California passed considerable timber camp near 
the river-plenty grass. (30) 



Tuesday June 29th 1852 

Travel 18 miles — sandy road and windy day — get to the upper 
ferry — camp near the river drve— good place to camp — plenty 
wood and water — drive the cattle 3 miles to grass. 

Wednesday June 30th 1852 

Left the upper ferry on platte — and travel 13 miles without 
water — good roads camp near a spring — good grass the cattle 
got scattered very badley. 

Thursday July 1st 1852 

Travel 12 miles — good roads but dusty camp near platte river — 
pass no timber not much grass — drive the cattle three miles to 
grass. 

Friday July 2nd 1852 

Travel 18 miles — sandy road and dusty — pass Independence 
rock — cross sweet water — pass devils gate — camp near sweet 
water — not much grass. (31) 



30. Many men returning from California carried their goods on pack 
horses. In some cases men walked the entire distance, dragging or push- 
ing a small hand cart in which was loaded their food and bedding. The 
editor's father who crossed the plains in 1850 used to relate an incident of 
meeting a lone traveler dragging a hand cart who, as he approached them, 
whinnied like a horse and demanded to know if he would find grass 
further on ! 

31. Sweetwater joins the North Platte near the south line of Na- 
trona County, Wyoming, a little east of the one hundred and seventh 
meridian. The valley of the North Platte, up which they had been fol- 
lo'ving, here turns due south and the trail leaves it and follows up the 
valley of Sweetwater. Independence Rock was a famous landmark in 
this region. Its highest point is one hundred and fifty -five feet above 
the river and it covers an area of twenty-seven acres. This was a well 
known camping place. The rock is said to have derived its name from 
the fact that the first company of whites to go over this trail encamped 
here on the fourth of July and held a celebration in honor of the day. It 
is covered with the names of emigrants who have camped near it. The 
Devil's Gate, five miles further on. is a rift in the ridges of grar.ite throui?h 
which flows the Sweetwater. It is about four hundred feet deep virith 
nearly vertical sides, less than three hundred feet apart at the top. (See 
Chittenden, History of the Fur Trade, Vol. 1, p. 471. 



16 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Saturday July 3nd 1852 

Travel 18 miles — up sweet water — this river is about 40 ft wide — 
rattle snake mountains on the north side — snake indians — 
camp — not much grass. (32) 

Sunday July 4th 1852 

Laid by all day to let the cattle rest — cold and windy day and 
night — ^^not much grass plenty sage brush for use many teams 
pass us wrote a letter. 

Monday July 5th 1852 
Travel 17 miles — sandy roads — windy cold day — cross sweet 
watter 4 times — bad to cross camp near the river on the south 
side — some grass and sage brush. (33) 

Tuesday July 6th 1852 

Laid by all day — good grass — sage brush — great many indians 
come and camp in 2 miles of us — trade some with us. 

Wednesday July 7th 1852 

Travel 17 miles without water — indians go with us — Joseph 
Mace overtook us — not much grass — near indian camp 1 mile 
above us. 

Thursday July 8 1852 

Travel 15 miles — drive the cattle 2^miles to grass in the morn- 
ing — rough roads indians plenty — camp in two miles of the 
river good grass on the river. (34) 

Friday July 9th 1852 
Travel 15 miles — rough rocky roads — cross north fork of sweet 
water — passed some snow — camp on south fork of sweet water 
water good grass at camp. 

Saturday July 10th 1852 

Travel 13 miles — good roads crossed sweet water the last time 

32. Sweetwater is a remarkably clear and beautiful mountain stream. 
The water in that region is usually alkaline, so the name "Sweetwater" 
seems very fitting. However the French name which was first given was 
Eau Sucree and not Eau Douce, and there is a tradition that it was given 
because some pack mules loaded with sugar were lost in this stream. 

3}. The trail continued alonj; Sweetwater nearly to its source, cross- 
ing and recrossing it many times. 

34. The Indians referred to may be Sioux, or possibly were Snake 
Indians. 






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18 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA ' 

passed over the summit of the rocky mountains — camp at 
pacific springs — pleasant day. (35) 

Sunday July 11th 1852 

Travel 20 miles — very good roads — camp on little sandy — 
drive cattle 2 miles to grass — poor place to camp plenty wood. 
(36) 

Monday July 12th 1852 
Start about noon and travel 6 miles to big camp lYz miles above 
the ford — drive the cattle 6 miles to grass — good place to camp. 

Tuesday July 13th 1852 
camp in the same place and let the cattle rest — no more water 
for 40 miles ahead. . 

Wednesday July 14th 1852 

Start at 10 o'clock and travel till night — stop for supper travel 
tin midnight — stop an hour travel till daylight — grass plenty. 

Thursday July 15th 1852 
Travel till noon and reach green river, green river quite low. 
camp one mile below the ford — take the cattle onto an island 
and let them stay without guarding. {37) 

Friday 15th 1852 
Lay bj' all day — not inuch grass — warm weather green river 
low — plenty wood and water. 

Saturday July 17th 1852 
Ford green river- — good ford but swift current 2 foot deep — 
travel 10 miles to bear creek good place to camp plenty grass 
water and wood. . 

35. They cross "over the summit of the Rock Mountains" through 
South Pass, the most celebrated pass in the entire continental divide. It 
is about 7,500 feet above sea level and as a mountain pass is disappoint- 
ing. The ground slopes up so gently through a broad open valley that 
the traveler is in doubt as to which is the highest point. Tradition says 
that this pass was discovered by Etienne Provost in 1S23. It is almost 
exactly half way between Independence Missouri and Fort Vancouver, so 
from here on our party must feel that they are on the "home stretch." 
Pacific Springs is the first water flowing toward the Pacific Ocean. 

36. At t^ittlc Sandy they left the main trail, running by Fort Bridger, 
and took what was known as Sublette's Cut Off or the "Dry Drive." 
This rejoins the main trail near Bear Kiver. It saved fifty three miles 
but missed the supply point. Fort Bridger. Little Sandy is here flowing 
south. It is a tributary of Big Sandy which the next entry shows that 
they reached a few miles further on. 

37. This is the Colorado Desert over which they have been traveling. 
Green River must have been very low. Birge. who crossed it in the sum- 
mer of 1866. describes it as very swift and ten feet deep in some places. 
(Birge, "Awakening of the Desert," page 279.) 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 19 

Sunday July 18th 1852 

Lay by all day — good grass near camp — sold one ox and bought 
a cow and an ox — Gilliams left the Co — some rain and hail up 
the creek. 

Monday July 19th 1852 
Travel 20 miles — very hilly roads and broken country, windy 
day. camp on a small creek good grass — plenty wood and 
water — rains at night. 

Tuesday 20th 1852 

Travel 12 m.les — very hilly bad roads — pass some quaken asps 
and some graves — camp on hams fork of bear river very good 
grass — wood and water. (38) 

Wednesday July 21st 1852 
Travel 18 miles- — rough hilly roads — pass over the summit of 
the bear river mountains camp near a good spring good grass. 

Thursday July 22nd 1852 
Travel 14 miles — good roads on bear river — very dusty — camp 
on Bear river — very good grass on the island — -plenty wood — 
musquitoes very bad. (39) 

Friday July 23nd 1852 
Travel 16 miles — very bad roads, cross Thomas fork on the 
bridge — paid $1.00 per wagon camp on bear river — good grass 
musquitoes bad. over take Caleb Richey (-10) 

Saturday July 24th 1852 
Travel 10 miles — very good roads but dusty crossed several 
small creeks — camp near a good spring — plenty good grass and 
water. 

Sunday July 25th 1852 
Travel 10 miles — stop at 10 oclock and stay till night — very 
good grass — plenty wood and water — good place to camp — • 

38. Ham's Fork is not a tributary of Bear River, as James Akin 
seems to think, but joins Black's Fork some distance north of Fort Bridger 
ard flows into Green River. It was an important stream in early days. 
They were approaching the line of the present state of Idaho, which they 
must have passed not far from the present town of Border. 

39. Bear River rises nearly east of Salt Lake City and flows north 
through about two degrees of latitude. It then turns to the west, and 
swinging about, flows almost due south for over a hundred miles into 
Great Salt Lake. A few miles down Bear River the Sublette Cut Off, 
or "Dry Drive." which they had been following, joins the main trail. 

40. This is Thompson's Fork and not "Thomas Fork" as James 
Akin writes it. The toll bridge shows how early some enterprising pioneer 
financier had begun to realize a profit by improving the difficult route. 
One dollar per wagon must have brought him in a golden harvest, if most of 
the emigrants crossed en his bridge. 



20 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Monday July 26th 1852 

Travel 16 miles — very dusty roads — but good passed Soda and 
steamboat springs — camp on bear river — very bad watering 
cattle — grass plenty. (41) 

Tuesday 27th 1852 
Left bear river travel 18 miles — very good dusty roads — passed 
the forks of Oregon and California roads — plenty water good 
place to camp. (42) 

Wednesday July 28th 
Travel 7 miles — stop at 11 oclock — stay on account of sickness 
Parvekee indians plenty — camp on deep creek — good grass. (43) 

Thursday July 29th 1852 
Travel 18 miles — rough roads — passed plenty of spring — camp on 
a small creek — very good grass — plenty of wood — water and 
sarvis berries. (44) 

Friday July 30th 1852 

Travel 17 miles — very rough and dusty roads showers in the 
evening — camp on the creek — plenty grass — wood and water — 
no wagons in sight today. 

Saturday July 31st 1852 
Laid by all day — good grass — Miranda Jane Richey daughter 
of Caleb and Allice Richey died — rained some in the evening — 
wood and water plenty. (45) 

Sunday August 1st 1852 
Travel 16 miles — sandy and mudy roads — considerable rain — 
passed fort hall — camped on a fork of snake river — plenty of 
water — wood scarce. (46) 

41. Soda Springs is at the great bend of Bear River. There are 
many hot springs here and one miniature geyser quite near. The noise 
of the eruptions of this little geyser has caused it to be named Steam- 
boat Springs. 

42. The Oregan and California trails fork just beyond the great 
bend of Bear River. 

43. He may be trying to write "Portneuf Indians" here, as they are 
near the Portneuf River. 

44. Service berries, of course. 

45. This is the third death recorded by James Akin. 

46. Fort Hall was on the left bank of Snake River about nine miles 
above the mouth of Portneuf. It had belonged to the Hudson's Bay Com- 
pany and was the first station on Columbian waters. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 21 

Monday August 2nd 1852 

Take an indian cut off and travel 10 miles — to the other road 
travel 7 miles farther cross snake river camp — grass plenty. (47) 

Tuesday Aug 3rd 
Travel 18 miles — very rough roads — passed the american falls 
of snake river — camp on Bench creek — grass very scarce — wood 
plenty. (48) 

Wednesday 4 Aug 1852 
Travel 12 miles — stop at 10 oclock and give the cattle grass 
rained considerable camp on river at the forks of the Oregon 
and California roads good grass. 

Thursday Aug 5th 1852 
Travel 15 miles without water — very rockey rough roads — camp 
on marsh creek — drive cattle two miles to grass. 

Friday Aug 6th 1852 
Travel 15 miles — good roads — passeda great many dead cattle — 
camp on goose creek — good grass — plenty wood and water. (49) 

Saturday aug 7th 1852 
Travel 25 miles — the last 13 without water — very rought dusty 
roads camp an hour after dark on dry creek water scarce — 
grass plenty. (50) 

Sunday aug 8th 1852 

La'd by all day — very good grass — great many camped around 
water very scarce — great many dead cattle on this creek. 

Monday aug 9th 1852 
Travel 8 miles — camp at 2 oclock — very good roads but dusty — 
camp on 2nd rock creek very good grass — water plenty. (51) 

47. It is imposible to explain his entry; "cross Snake River" as the 
trail followed the left bank and his subsequent entries show that the 
Richey-Akin party continued down Snake River, following the left bank. 
Perhaps he means they cross a tributary of Snake River. 

48. American Falls are said to be so named because a party of 
American hunters coming down the river in a canoe were swept over 
these falls and drowned. The next entry refers to a Second fork of the 
California and Oregon trails. (See map in Chittenden, "History of the 
Fur Trade.") 

49. The distance by the main trail from Marsh Creek to Goose Creek 
IS seventeen miles. James Akin estimates it as fifteen which indicates 
that his estimates throughout may be taken as approximately correct. 

50. This part of the trail was back some distance from the river. Dry 
Creek flows into the Snake River a few miles west of the 114th meridian. 

51. Rock Creek Hows into the Snake near the present city of Twin 
Falls. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 23 

Tuesday aug. 10th 1852 

Travel 12 miles — very rough and dusty roads grass scarce — 
camp on 2nd rock creek — some grass — water and vvrood plenty — 
mother sick in the evening this is James Akins wife that is sick. 

Wednesday aug 11th 1852 

Travel 16 miles — start very early — very bad watering place at 
noon in snake river — stop at 4 oclock and take the cattle to 
grass — start at dark and travel 8 miles to water. 

Thursday aug 12th 1852 
Travel 3 m'les — stop and camp on banks of snake river — Lay 
by the balance of the day good grass three miles off — wood and 
water plenty. 

Friday aug 13th 1852 
Lay by all day — good grass — wood and water plenty. (52) 

Saturday 14 aug 
Start and travel 12 miles — to salmon falls water plenty — Indians 
fishing. (53) 

Sunday 15th aug 
Lay by till sun down start and travel till 2 o'clock — stop and 
sleep till day light. 

Monday aug 16th 1852 
Travel till breakfast — stop on good grass — start and leave the 
road and go to the river — very bad place to water — lay by til 
night — start and travel till 1 oclock. (54) 

Tuesday aug 17th 1852 
Start at daylight and travel 6 miles to the crossing of snake 
river lay by the balance of the day — emigrants going down the 
river in wagon beds. (55) 

Wednsday 18th august 1852 

Lay by all day in same place — very bad place to camp — prepar- 
ing to cross the river. 

52. Apparently they lay by so often partly on account of sickness. 
Also they have passed the worst part of the journey and no doubt feel 
themselves and cattle entitled to a little rest. 

53. Salmon Falls River flows into the Snake a little above the pres- 
ent town of Austin. 

54. It must have been much more pleasant traveling at night than 
during the day, since it was now about the middle of August. 

55. Probably the crossing referred to is Glenn's' Ferry, near the mouth 
of Little Canon Creek, which flows into Snake River from the north. 
The entry "emigrants going down the river in wagon beds" is most in- 
teresting. Surely it would be a long and hazardous voyage. There 
would be portages to make too but it would at least be a change from 
driving ox wagons over the dusty trail. 



24 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Thursday august 19th 
Try all day to get the cattle across the river and could not. 

Friday auguast 20th 
Tow the cattle across the river betw^een the wagon beds — ferry 
them over in the evening James Nicholson starts in a wagon 
bed. (56) 

Saturday august 21st 1852 
All cross the river except two and gone after them — cool 
weather. 

Sunday august 22nd 
Mother taken worse in the morning and died about 9 oclock in 
the evening we are about 30 miles below Salmon river falls on 
the north side of the snake river Eliza Akin is the wife of James 
Akin. (57) 

Monday 23nd august 1852 
Mother was buried about 10 oclock in the morning about 200 
yards above the crossing of the river — travel eight miles to a 
spring. 

Tuesday august 24th 
Lay by till noon Moses Rhodes died in the morning travel 11 
miles — good roads camp on dry creek — water scarce — grass 
plenty. (58) 

Wednsday august 25 1852 
Travel 15 miles — good roads but hilly, plenty grass all the 
time — wood and water plenty — passed boiling hot springs 
camp on beautiful creek. 

Thursday august 26th 
Travel 14 miles — very rockj^ creek camp at Charlotte creek no 
water for the cattle grass and wood plenty. 

Friday august 27th 1852 
Travel 15 miles — hilly roads but good — plenty of grass all the 
time — camp on white horse creek — wood and water plenty. 

56. This day and the preceding one must have been trying. Per- 
haps James Nicholson's experience with refractory oxen during these days 
was what prompted him to risk flying "to other ills he knew not of" rather 
than bear the present ones any longer. We can hardly fail to admire bis 
courage in starting out in such a frail craft. 

57. James Akin notes the location here exactly, as the place where 
his mother died and was buried. This was the fourth death in the little party. 

'58. The fifth death recorded by James Akin. They left the river 
at the crossing, and are traveling northwest across the country in the di- 
rection of the present city of Boise. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 25 

Saturday august 28 
Travel 20 miles — without water good roads and cool day — camp 
on Boise river — this is a beautiful river — wood and grass plenty. 
(59) 

Sunday august 29th 1852 
Travel 12 miles — down Salmon river — good grass all the time 
camp at 2 oclock good grass — wood and water hares plenty 
— got some fish of the indians. (60) 

Monday august 30th 

Travel 18 miles — down Salmon river — good roads. cool day 
camp on Salmon river — good grass wood and water. 

Tuesday august 31st 1852 
Travel 15 miles down Salmon river — cross the river — good 
grass — wood and water plenty. 

Wednsday September 1st 1852 
Travel 8 miles to fort Boise cross snake river in the evening — 
pay $2.50 per wagon good grass on the north side of the river. 
(61) 

Thursday Sept 2nd 

Travel 15 miles to a large creek — good grass — camp at 10 oclock 
in the night very dusty roads. (62) 

Friday 3nd Sep 1852 

T lYz miles — down the river to a spring — ^good grass and water 
— wood scarce. . 

Saturday Sept 4th 
Start at 2 oclock a m Travel 12 miles to Sulphur Springs — 
by 8 oclock p m Travel 12 miles further to Birch creek — not 
much grass water and wood plenty. 

59. Probably a little above the present city of Boise. 

60. It is difficult to understand why James Akin should call this 
"Salmon River" as he gave it correctly in the preceding entry. The stream 
is, of course, the Boise River which is here flowing nearly west. The- 
travel down its valley some fifty miles to Fort Boise which is on SnaKc 
River eight miles below the mouth of the Boise. 

61. The ferrymen's prices seem to increase as the emigrants ap- 
proach Oregon and the California gold fields. Snake river forms the 
boundary line here between Idaho and Oregon, so they are now within 
the limits of the latter state. 

62. The "large creek" must have been the Malheur River. The road 
has turned away from the Snake River but returns to it again about 
twenty-five miles beyond the Malheur, near Burnt River. 



26 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Sunday 5 Sept 1852 
Travel 10 miles to burnt river — camp at 1 o'clock not much 
grass — herd the cattle on willow^s — wood plenty. (63) 

Monday Sept. 6th 
Travel 10 miles — Stop at noon and stay the balance of the 
day — windy and cold nights considerable sickness in the com- 
pany — willow wood and water plenty. 

Tuesday Sept 7th 1852 
Travel 18 miles — leave burnt river — very rough hilly roads 
camp on a branch of burnt river — no grass — wood and water 
plenty. 

Wednsday Spt 8 
Travel 11 miles — rough roads — camp at noon on burnt river — 
grass — wood and water plenty. 

Thursday Sept 9th 1852 
Lay by all day on account of sickness, company, all left except 
uncle Stuart and Caleb Richey — not much grass — wood and 
water plenty. 

Eliza Ann Richey daughter of Stuart Richey died at 9 o'clock 
P. M. (64) 

Friday Sept 10th 
Start at noon and travel 9 miles — good roads camp on small 
creek — not much grass — wood and water plenty. 

Saturday Sept 11th 1852 

Travel 23 miles — very dusty roads — camp on dry branch — not 
much water camp at 9 o'clock — grass pretty good. 

Sunday Sept 12th 
Travel 16 miles — very good roads — fine showers in the af- 
ternoon — camp on a branch of powder river grass — wood and 
water plenty. 

63. Burnt River flows irjto Snake River a little below the present 
town of Huntington. They will now travel up Burnt River about twenty- 
eight miles to its great bend near where the present town of Durkee 
is located. 

64. Apparently the company is becoming scattered again. This is 
the sixth death in the party. The roads are rough and. judged by measure 
mcnts made on the maps, James Akin seems to be slightly overestimating 
the number of miles traveled in most cases. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 27 

Monday Sept 13th 1852 

Travel 12 miles — good roads and cool day — noon at powder 
river — camp on a small creek good grass wood and water. (65) 

Tuesday Sept 14th 
Pravel 16 miles to the west Side of grand round bought some 
3eef at 20 cts per pound — -excellent grass and water — pine wood. 
(66) 

Wednesday Sept 15th 1852 
Lay by all day — great many comped here on account of sick- 
ness — and to recrute their teams plenty of Kioose (Cayuse) 
ndians with vegetables to sell 
Abe Gilliam died. 

Thursday Sept 16th 
Lost 9 of our cattle — hunt for them all day and find them just 
it Sunset — considerable sickness in company. 

Friday Sept 17th 1852 
Fravel 15 miles— cross the blue mountains and grand round 
-iver — roughest roads we have ever had — travel through pine 
limber all day camp. 

Saturday Sept 18th 
Fravel 13 miles through thick timber and rough roads with 
)ut water — camp on a creek — plenty water and wood — some 
jrass — tie the cattle at night. (67) 

Sunday Sept 19th 1852 
start at 10 o'clock — travel 5 miles — through the timber roads 
setter., camp in the timber — same grass — not much water. 

Monday Sept 20th 
Fravel 10 miles — good roads — to umatilla river pass a Kioose 
'Cayuse) village — camp on the river grass scarce, the cayuse 
/vas holding a war dance when we passed them, they was in war 
;ustom. (68) 

65. Following the main line of the Oregon Trail it is sixty miles 
rem Burnt River to Powder River. James Akin makes it about sixty- 
ive, assuming that six of the twelve miles traveled September 13th were 
nade in the forenoon. 

66. The word is Grande Ronde. This was a circular valley in 
he mountains, noted as an excellent campnig place. It was at this 
)oint that the trail started across the difficult Blue Mountains which will 
•xplain his entry: "great many camped here on account of sickness and 
o recruit their teams." The price of beef must have seemed to them 
lery high The next entry records the seventh death in the company, 
ind the last one that occurred among them while on the trail. 

67. They are in a thickly timbered region which, coupled with their 
ixperience of September 16th, causes them to "tie the cattle at night." 

68. They must have reached the Umatilla River not very far from the 
lite of the present town of Pendleton. "War custom" of course means 
var costume. 



28 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

Tuesday Sept 21st 1852 
Travel 12 miles down the river — good roads — rained in the 
morning — camp on the river — no grass — wood and water plenty. 

Wednsday Sept 22nd 
Lay by till noon — travel 11 miles dry camp — plenty grass no 
wood or water. 

Thursday Sept 23rd 
Travel 7 miles to umatilla camp, at noon — Lay by the balance 
of the day — plenty wood and grass. . 

Friday Sept 24 
Travel 12 miles to Umatilla river and agency to butter creek 
camp on creek — good grass wood and water. (69) 

Saturday Sept 25th 1852 

Lay by all day — plenty of umatilla indians — about the camp 
all night plenty grass — wood and water. 

Sunday Sept 26th 
Start at noon — travel 10 miles — dry camp — no wood or water — 
grass plenty. 

Monday Sept 27th 1852 
Travel 12 miles to wells Springs — water scarce and not good — 
travel 6 miles further — dry camp — not much grass. 

Tuesday Sept 28th 
Start at 3 o'clock A. M. travel 9 miles to willow creek — water 
scarce — not much grass — wood plenty. (70) 

Wednsday Sept 29th 
Start at noon — travel 12 miles hilly roads — very windy day — 
camp — no wood — water or grass. 

Thursday Sept 30th 1852 
Start at day light — travel 18 miles — good roads camp on John 
daye river plenty wood and water — (71) 

69. The main trail in early times followed down the Umatilla River 
about forty-five miles to the Columbia. The Akin party, however, evident- 
ly leave the Umatilla while yet several miles from the Columbia and 
turn nearly due west, traveling almost parallel with that river for eighty 
or ninety miles and not reaching it until they arrive at a point just 
above the mouth of the Des Chutes. 

70. Willow Creek flows into the Columbia at the present town of 
Willows. 

71. John Day River forms the boundary between Sherman and Gilliam 
Counties. It was named for John Day of the Astoria post. 



THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKIN JR. 29 

Friday Oct 1st 

Travel 12 miles — cross John daye river — camp 6 miles from 
river no water or wood — good grass — good roads. (72) 

Saturday Oct 2nd 

Start at mid night — travel 12 miles by sun rise get breakfast 
travel 5 miles further to Columbia river — camp on the de chute 
river. 

Simday Oct 3rd 
Cross de chute river before breakfast — start at noon and travel 
6 miles camp on a creek — not much wood — plenty water and 
grass. 

Monday Oct 4th 1852 ' 

Travel 10 miles — down Columbia river — pass the dalles — flour 
wood — aplenty water and grass — camp in two miles of the 
dalles. 

Tuesday Oct 5th 
Travel 10 miles — down Columbia river — pass the dalles — flour 
35 cts per pound camp in Columbia river bottom — wood and 
water and grass plenty. (72) 

Wednesday Oct 6th 
Travel 2 miles — camp and go to preparing to raft down the 
river — haul some pine logs to the river grass plenty. 

Thursday Oct 7th 

Cut logs and cork wagon beds all day very windy evening and 
night plenty of wood water and grass, boats-canoes running 
up and down the river. 

Friday Oct 8th 1852 
very windy coll day — ^haul logs all day — no boats running cattle 
doing very well. . 

Saturday Oct 9th 
Still preparing our raft to go down the river — blustering cool 
weather. 

Sunday Oct 10th 
James ii>^icholson and John T. Stewart and John Akin start 
with the cattle on the pack trail. (74) 

72. The meaning of this entry is not clear. Perhaps they travel- 
ed down John Day some miles before crossing. 

73. At the Dalles they are about sixteen miles below the mouth 
of the Des Chutes River. There was splendid pine timber here and 
it was natural that they should prepare to "raft down the river" as he 
says in the next entry since they were below the obstruction of the Dalles. 

74. Once the raft of logs and wagon beds was ready it was expect- 
ed that the journey down the river would be made quickly, so they sent 
these three men on with the cattle. 




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THE JOURNAL OF JAMES AKJN JR. 31 

Monday Oct 11th 1852 

Calm day — take our raft to pieces — put it togather again. 

Tuesday Oct 12th 

Start down the river about 10 o'clock travel 6 miles — wind up 
stream. 

Wednsday Oct 13th 
Travel 5 miles — high winds up the river — camp in a big willow 
thicket — plenty of wood. 

Thursday Oct 14th 1852 ^ 

Travel 5 miles — all leave the raft and go down the river in an 
indian canoe — except uncle Stuart and W. A. Coulter. (75) 
(This is the last entry left by James Akin) 

Friday Oct 15th 
reach the cascades about 2 O'clock in the evening every one 
sick Stayed until my father and Coulter came with the raft 
and the cattle came and then we went to the lower cascades 
and camped there until the Steam Boat came from Portland, 
this is my rememberance — 

EDGAR RICHEY. 
Mrs.. Nancy Hanson tells me that we paid the indians 
who brought us down in the canoe — twenty dollars in money 
and our big tent 

our little Sister mary ann Akin died at the lower cascades and 
was buried their we were at the cascades about a week waiting 
for a steam boat to bring us to Portland 

our father James Akin died two weeks after we reached port- 
land (76) 

Frances Akin now Rowe 

Stuart Richey, Caleb Richey, and James Akins children 
settled in Pleasant valley 10 miles east of Portland. 

Settled in the Spring of 1853 and hewed our farms out of 
the timber which cost $100 per acer and more. 

75. Apparently voyaging by raft was not as successful as they had 
hoped, partly due to the fact that high winds were blowing up stream. 
It can be imagined too that they were perhaps none too skillful either in 
making or navigating such a craft. The Indians along the Columbia had 
large canoes and found profitable employment in transporting emigrants 
down the river. 

This is the last entry made by James Akin. There are three more 
entries in the little book, however, all apparently made many years later. 
One is by James Akin's sister Frances Akin-Rowe and the other two are 
by Edgar Richey. These entries explain themselves. 

76. Mary Akin is the eighth member of the party that died before 
they reached their destination though only seven died while on the trail. 



32 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 

John Akin went one or two dys and gets sick and is taken 
in the canoe and i take his place with the cattle — we stayed in 
Portland that winter and then moved out on the ranch flour 40 
dollars per bbl pickled pork 60 dollars per bbl potatoes 5 
dollars per bushel and every thing at the same rate — we paid 
common cows one hundred dollars one yoke oxen $250 one hog 
twenty dollars. {77) 

EDGAR RICHEY 

77. Stuart Richey took the Akin children to live with him on his 
homestead in Pleasant Valley, since their father and mother were both 
dead. Stuart Richey lived there until his death, and his daughter still 
lives (in 1919) on the old homestead. All of the older members of the 
party are dead but some of the children who made the journey are still 
living. James Akin Jr., died some years ago but his younger brother 
Frank Akin is still living. In fact there are many members of the 
Akin and Richey families still living in Oregon, all prosperous and res- 
pected citizens. They brought with them, or had sent over, many seeds 
and scions of trees and shrubs from Iowa, which they have planted about 
their home. It is commonly said in that community that you can tell 
where any member of the Richey family lives by the trees about the 
house. The sour elms and hard maples which they brought from Iowa 
are especially beautiful, having grown wonderfully well in the Oregon soil 
and climate. (Statement of Mrs. D. H. Hartley.) 



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